Tidal Wave Footage Photos, 15th AAF and Luftwaffe, 'Black Sunday', 1 August 1943

Okey, let's start another interesting thread.
My source for this is a 1963 book by James Dugan and Carrol Stewart entitled simply "Ploesti".
I found an intersting mention in it of an RAF Squadron Leader George Barwell," world's leading air gunnery theoretician, who joined Norman Appold's crew and flew in the top turret in a virtuoso duet against death in the flak beds". Supposedly he did this on several occasions and flew with the yanks on quite a few missions around the Med, accounting for six or seven shot down Messerschmitts!
If you know about him let me know, if not I will gladly scan a couple of pages about the guy, he was one interesting individual, that's for sure!
Artur

It's the German Imperial flag.

thanks Victor but why only some units would wear this emblem ?

Al

Hi Alex,

Here's a picture to give you a little better idea as to what the Hail Columbia does looks like overall. Again, sorry for the camera work. Also, you had mentioned Flak Alley. I built this one on a stand motorized, depicting the shoot down of this B-24 on 22 Feb, 1944. If you are going to built this one, you should know a couple of things. First, the 8th AF did not begin using the geometric BG symbols until Dec, '43. Second, the nose art on this a/c was repeated on the right side as well. This model was destroyed on the way home from the 60th TW Anniversary and this is the only picture I ever took of it.

I can give you more detailed info if you are interested. I thank you and Dan for your compliments.

Best regards,

Pat


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FLACK ALLEY by Pat Schenk

Al

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Two quick updates to this list after looking through the Bailey/North "Liberator Album" book which had clearer pictures of a couple of these aircraft...
There is a clear picture of 42-40997 Screamin' Mimi showing that it has a K-6 style cheek gun mount on the left nose - this is much earlier than the pattern below indicates, and is interestingly only six serials off of the 42-40991 that we are trying to possibly connect to this photo.
There is a somewhat clear picture of 42-63980 Missouri Mauler showing that it probably has a K-6 style cheek gun mount on the right nose - this fits the pattern below as to when Fort Worth built aircraft may have begun receiving these.
Still, 42-40991 is suspected to be OD not desert pink,and we have not received confirmation that the crew is that of Lt. Deeds, this does at least suggest that it would not be out of the realm of possibility that 42-40991 might have had this cheek gun arrangement.

I am altering my list below to reflect these updates.

Thanks,

Chris

Dzien Dobre Pane Arthur

Please post all details, the memories are blurry, this is an old book I have lost and there is no way to get a hold of it anywhere.

Dzienquie

Alex

Another Tidal Wave book. Below is "PETROL ŞI BOMBE LA PLOIEŞTI" front cover

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Idem. back cover

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"MISIUNEA TIDAL WAVE" by Victor Donciu

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Alex and all, please the mistery with this B-24 lost over target was solved?
Was a green plane in 98BG and not pink ?


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"IMPACT LA PARALELA 45" 's cover by Horia Brestoiu


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This is an emotional recollection of a 44th Bmb Grp TW veteran which I want to share with all of you from Rumania, US and bbroad about the glorious day back on August 1, 1943 over Rumania
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On the morning of the raid on Ploesti we were up very early for breakfast and briefing and then to the planes for takeoff at 7 a.m. We were eager to get started on this exciting low-level raid after three months of practice and getting ready. All the planes got off okay and headed out over the Mediterranean Sea toward the Adriatic Sea just east of Italy and west of Yugoslavia. “I observed a very strange event as we were flying at 8,000 to 10,000 just south of Italy over the Ionian Sea.

A B-24 suddenly dived straight down into sea. Later we learned it was our lead plane for the entire mission. I could not imagine what could have gone wrong. As usual we were too busy to dwell very long on this unusual event and proceeded on with our mission. For various reasons we had 20 to 30 planes turn back. Most were attributed to mechanical failures caused by the desert sand.

“We flew a loose formation over the water gradually climbing to about 11,000 or 12,000 feet and then turning on a heading of about 70 degrees across the mountains of Yugoslavia and clouds which gave us trouble, but didn’t stop us. Later, we began a slow descent down the east slope to the Blue Danube River, which was a muddy brown, I suppose from rains. As we flew lower we
could see the countryside, cities, animals, people dressed in bright colors, as if we were out for apleasant Sunday afternoon drive.

“Before we knew it we arrived at the IP (initial point) where we changed course and flew southeast for approximately 25 to 30 miles to the target. At this time we were flying very low,passing a downed B-24 on my right. It appeared to have landed wheels up but fairly well intact. The crew was standing beside the plane, waving as we flew by. How I did wish we could land and pick them up.
“Next we came upon a power line and I remember pulling up to get over it thinking of the planes on my wings. By this time the anti aircraft guns were in full swing and many shells were exploding all around us. This was the first time we had ever been this close to 88 mm. guns and the impressive thing was the rapid rate of fire and the flames and bright flashes which seemed to be 30 to 40 feet long out of the muzzle.

“We were now able to see many of the other targets burning. B-24s were coming back, over and through us. One plane, Bar D, flew directly over the top of our planes. I looked up about 100 feet and saw a hole about six feet across between #1 and #2 engines burning fiercely with the metal burning brilliantly around the outer edges. I’m sure he did not go far before crashing. The sky was full of B-24s returning from the other targets. They flew over the top of our planes as we
were approaching the target flying extremely low. Our target was less than a mile straight ahead.

There were numerous guns around the refinery and they were all firing. We had one or two fixed 50 caliber guns in the nose for the pilot to fire but I do not recall firing them. I was too busy flying toward the target to concentrate on a target for the nose guns. I remember seeing a ground soldier literally explode when hit by some of our 50 caliber guns. He was less than 400 feet away. “We had the target in sight from about 10 to 15 miles away and now we were rapidly approaching at a very low level – less than 50 feet high. I remember very clearly pulling up to get
over the smokestacks on the power house which was my assigned target and I feel sure we put our bombs directly over target. The bombs were delayed action bombs and exploded at intervals of 30 seconds to 72 hours. This was to keep fire fighters away from the refineries.

“After releasing our bombs, we continued on a course that led us to the southwest and toward home. The Rumanian and German fighters jumped us on the retreat and several of them flew into the ground as we were still at a very low level. Our gunners were well trained and experienced at shooting enemy planes and they did an excellent job.

“I noticed one B-24 trailing heavy black smoke from the tanks in the bomb bay. He was flying very low and about 200 to 300 yards in front of me. The smoke grew bigger and I knew he could not last much longer. I never did understand why he did not gain some altitude in order to bail the crew out. After about 20 miles he pulled up into a steep climb to about 700 to 800 feet. I was so close behind I had to observe the direction of his nose in order to dodge his plane. I turned to the
right as he veered to the left. When he stalled the nose fell abruptly and three chutes opened as the men in the tail were thrown 15 to 20 feet above the tail section. I feel sure they landed okay and probably made their way to the wreckage. The plane passed under our left wing and exploded which I believe ended in the deaths of all the men in the front, six, probably.

I never heard any more about this plane or crew.

“We lost #3 engine as our fuel ran out because of a faulty pump. We were not far from the target when this happened so we transferred fuel and restarted the engine until we were off the coast. In the meantime, I ordered the crew to throw everything overboard: guns, ammunition, etc. I remember the long strings of 50-caliber ammo snaking through the air and into the mountains of Yugoslavia. We saved 100 rounds for the top and tail turrets in case we ran into enemy planes.
We dropped behind after crossing the coast in order to save fuel. All engines were reduced, both RPMs and manifold pressure. Our flight across the Mediterranean was uneventful. We encountered a number of low cloudbanks and felt that each one would be over landfall but this was not to be until about the fourth or fifth cloudbank. It was nearing dark as we finally crossed the coast and our field was now only about 20 miles ahead. We proceeded directly to the field and landed promptly as we knew we were extremely low on fuel.

“I thought we flew about 14 hours, but later records showed 13 hours and 26 minutes. The next day I was told by the crew chief on our ship, “Wing and a Prayer,” that we had less than ten minute’s fuel. He drained the tanks to be sure.
“We were very tired but elated at the excellent results of our mission. “Blue Target,” which was the Brazi refinery, the largest and latest American-built refinery in Rumania, was 100 percent destroyed.

“We were all saddened by the loss of 50 or more planes in the five groups making the raid, but especially touched by the loss of one in our squadron piloted by Roland B. “Sam” Houston when he and his entire crew were lost. This plane was shot down by German Fighter Pilot Willie Steinman in an Me 109 whose story has been recorded. Houston and his crew were on their 32nd mission.

“All of us felt the importance of this raid and had practiced long and
hard to make it. Patriotism was very much alive in America on
August 1, 1943, and most certainly in our crews hearts as well.

“All crewmembers were well decorated; our squadron receiving two Distinguished Service Crosses, three Silver Stars, and everyone on the mission receiving Distinguished Flying Crosses. Five Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded for this raid, including our own Group Commander, Col. Leon Johnson, and Col. “Killer” Kane. Three were awarded posthumously.

Never before on the field of human conflicts, there was so much owned by somany to so few ( W.Churchill)

From a friend at 44th Bmb Grp

This post has been edited by alexkdl on February 04, 2005 12:13 pm

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Fratello

Thanks for posting, please scan the books just in case are any photos unseen yet...also I would like to translate the books for my US TW veterans and friends...how can I get these old books ?

Alex

Dan

I will be looking into as soon as the time allows, personally I dont know the answer

Alex

This post has been edited by alexkdl on February 04, 2005 11:32 am